Before you say “Yes, I do”, have you got your beautiful kente style for your big day? Deciding what to wear for your traditional marriage could be a daunting task. You might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available. Your traditional marriage is not a wedding so sadly a gown is out of the question.
Well, don’t you think you are overthinking? Yes, it’s your big day and requires something very special. You need to wear something that looking back years after your wedding, you can still look pretty to the admiration of your grandkids.
Have you heard of kente? Of course, you have. Kente is not surprisingly the most preferred piece of clothing for traditional marriages. It has been a huge part of our culture, traditions and has been used for special events. And what’s more special than your own wedding.
Marriages are often themed as royal for good reason. Royalty invokes lots of pride, power, and influence. If you want your traditional marriage to be just like a royal wedding, your best bet is to go with a beautiful kente style. You simply can’t go wrong with a kente design.
Kente cloths are very colorful, come with beautiful patterns, and can be sewn into any style of your choosing. Even though Kaba and slit is probably the best and most popular style to sew your kente, there are lots of designs out there.
The trends in kente design show that Ghanaians are embracing new and bold designs. And fashion designers are more than excited by this trend in kente styles for marriage. It doesn’t matter the theme of your traditional marriage, kente will always be your best. Kente has been used for marriage since it was made. This can be attributed to the fact that kente was used mainly for celebrations involving joy such as festivals and marriages.
Significance of Kente Styles for Traditional Marriage
Kente is endowed with a lot of history, significance, and meaning. As a piece of cloth, kente has become more than it was ever meant to be. Kente designs have meanings that can enhance your traditional wedding with a connection in meaning. It is typical that proverbs, wise sayings, and proverbs are used for kente designs. Choosing a kente design with a meaning that relates to your marriage can greatly add more meaning to your marriage experience and grow your love for your partner.
Kente designs are created with much reverence for color. Color in African culture bears significant meaning. Some kente colors for traditional marriage include
- Blue: peacefulness, harmony, and love
- Gold: royalty, wealth, high status, glory, spiritual purity
- Pink: assoc. with the female essence of life; a mild, gentle aspect of red
- Purple: assoc. with feminine aspects of life; usually worn by women
- Silver: serenity, purity, joy; associated with the moon
- White: purification, sanctification rites, and festive occasions
- Yellow: preciousness, royalty, wealth, fertility, beauty
A mix of yellow, white, and gold makes a good combination for a royal wedding theme marriage.
Best Kente Styles for Traditional Marriage
Traditions for Ghanaian Traditional Marriage
Marriages in Ghana are as much a family affair as they are an individual affair. Two individuals may decide to marry but only with family approval. This is especially true for the bride’s family. They must agree before the two can be joined together in traditional marriage.
Let’s take a step back. Traditional marriages have been functional for long before the constitution and laws were created. Hence, customary law was created to continue certain customs to work with other laws of the country.
Unlike elsewhere, two consenting Ghanaians who decide to marry must go through some traditions before their union can be legal and recognized.
Much of the responsibility lies with the man. Women are given in marriage hence it is the man who seeks the woman in marriage, not the other way round. Even when the woman proposes, it is the man who has the obligation to go to the woman’s family to ask for her hand in marriage.
Once two people decide to marry, the next step is usually to get their families involved. The man and his family assemble to do what is called “Knocking”. During knocking, the man’s family visits the woman’s family to express their son’s interest in a beautiful “flower” he has spotted in their garden and would like to have the flower. This is basically asking for the consent of the woman’s family to marry the lady. The family of the woman will then decide. If they are happy with his request, they typically give certain requirements to be fulfilled by the man: the dowry. The dowry is a huge marriage tradition in Ghana.
The dowry is usually meant to be fulfilled in the customary or traditional engagement which could also be the traditional marriage. After this ceremony, the couple is now customarily married.
Most families would proceed to have another wedding depending on their religion. Christians do weddings while Muslims do Nikah. Kente is prominently used for traditional marriages as well as Christian weddings.
The theme for traditional marriages is strictly traditional or cultural so kente styles for traditional marriages are common. Also, African prints and other Ghanaian clothing are worn.
Unlike traditional marriages, western/Christian weddings could involve traditional clothing or western clothing such as foreign wedding gowns.
The family plays a critical role in marriage in Ghana. This is due to the fact that you cannot marry without family consent, even under the law.
To make the marriage graceful and beautiful, the family must be in sync hence it’s common for a family to be involved in the planning of the wedding.
Clothing is often decided to maintain some uniformity in the appearance of every attendant. Families could sew the same kente style using a particular design. This adds more unity to the ceremony.
Meaning of Kente for Traditional Weddings
As a traditional event, traditional marriages are to be themed in cultural regalia and items. The use of local language, wearing cultural clothing such as kente, African prints, Ankara, smocks, are all encouraged.
Kente particularly has a lot of meaning for traditional marriages. From the beautiful colors, intricate patterns to the significance they have for royalty and special events, kente is probably the best for traditional marriages out there.
Conclusion
Kente styles for traditional marriages are being modernized as fashion designers and couples try to add culture and beauty to their special day. The above kente designs are some of the best out there. You cannot go wrong with them. As you prepare for your big special day, may it be as you ever dreamt.
